Against Illegal Downloading Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Peer Pir

Against Illegal Downloading At the dawn of the internet, many things such as books and text became obsolete, due to insufficient monitoring of internet activity and sites. Individuals were able to gain free access to books and publications that normally needed to be bought, or required a fee. This is something that has caused problems for booksellers and publishers. Now, as technology advances, it also begins the decline of music, software, and television industries—but something can be done before it’s too late. Illegal downloading is a problem that affects us all, either directly or indirectly. Many people do not take it too seriously. They have not realized that it is an epidemic; like a disease that keeps growing as people become more knowledgeable about computers and learn more about how software runs. People openly burn music CDs and download music and movies for friends who in turn give it to their friends; it’s a never-ending cycle on illegal practices. The problem started when Nap ster came out and should have ended when it was shutdown. Unfortunately, not enough has been done to stop the illegal transfer of files. It’s time someone takes full action and ends this detrimental offense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napster is a company that developed the so-called peer-to-peer technology that lets people search and retrieve music files directly from one another's personal computers. When Napster first came out, millions of internet users worldwide were illegally downloading and distributing copyrighted music, videos, images, and software for free. After being vilified by the entertainment industry, which claims that Napster and any similar programs could make piracy of almost any digital work unstoppable, and many court battles, Napster was ordered by court to be shutdown in 2000. The technology has been praised as a revolutionary development for the Internet—unaware of the problems that would arise from such practices. However, the termination of Napster was not enough, months later, dozens of new, like programs were being developed and used. And since Napster, not much has been done to stop these latest downloading programs. Although there was a period where the Recording Industry Association of America (the RIAA), an organization that investigates the illegal production and distribution of sound recordings, went after a few users, including a twelve year old ... ...ement a chip into the motherboards to scan and analyze people’s online activities. The motherboard is the main system component of computers and all the hardware such as hard drives, video cards, sounds cards and anything else that you connect to your computer must be run through the mother board. So essentially all your activities could be monitored—especially the transfer of large files, such as songs and movies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As explained above, illegal downloading is a great problem affecting the entertainment industry and could soon be an even bigger problem for consumers. Downloading copyrighted material illegally is just as unlawful as stealing from a store or someone’s personal item. To prevent shutting down businesses and industries, internet pirates must be stopped and actively sought after. So if one is downloading material illegally take in to mind what harm it can do to and who is being hurt in the process. Free does not mean that it’s moral or fine; one must analyze and see the consequences of such actions before they continue—otherwise, it could be the end of something great because people were stealing and driving companies out of business, with no force stopping them.

The Colour Purple Theme

The title of the book is a very important symbol. Celie goes through life having a hard time noticing the beautiful aspects and appreciating them. She had a difficult life and was abused as an adolescent. â€Å"The color purple is continually equated with suffering and pain. Sofia's swollen, beaten face is described as the color of ‘eggplant'. Purple is the color of Celie's private parts: the site of her sexual violation. However, later Shug points out to her that life must be enjoyed. When they were in a field of purple flowers, Shug tells Celie to look at the flowers and embrace their beauty. You must look at all the good and acknowledge them because God placed them all on earth†. After learning this, Celie has a better respect for life and everything it has to offer. Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Power of Narrative and Voice Walker emphasizes throughout the novel that the ability t o express one’s thoughts and feelings is crucial to developing a sense of self. Initially, Celie is completely unable to resist those who abuse her.Remembering Alphonso’s warning that she â€Å"better not never tell nobody but God† about his abuse of her, Celie feels that the only way to persevere is to remain silent and invisible. Celie is essentially an object, an entirely passive party who has no power to assert herself through action or words. Her letters to God, in which she begins to pour out her story, become her only outlet. However, because she is so unaccustomed to articulating her experience, her narrative is initially muddled despite her best efforts at transparency. In Shug and Sofia, Celie finds sympathetic ears and learns lessons that enable her to find her voice.In renaming Celie a â€Å"virgin,† Shug shows Celie that she can create her own narrative, a new interpretation of herself and her history that counters the interpretations forced upon her. Gradually Celie begins to flesh out more of her story by telling it to Shug. However, it is not until Celie and Shug discover Nettie’s letters that Celie finally has enough knowledge of herself to form her own powerful narrative. Celie’s forceful assertion of this newfound power, her cursing of Mr. ______ for his years of abuse, is the novel’s climax. Celie’s story dumbfounds and eventually humbles Mr. _____, causing him to reassess and change his own life. Though Walker clearly wishes to emphasize the power of narrative and speech to assert selfhood and resist oppression, the novel acknowledges that such resistance can be risky. Sofia’s forceful outburst in response to Miss Millie’s invitation to be her maid costs her twelve years of her life. Sofia regains her freedom eventually, so she is not totally defeated, but she pays a high price for her words. The Power of Strong Female Relationships Throughout The Color Purple, Walker po rtrays female friendships as a means for women to summon the courage to tell stories.In turn, these stories allow women to resist oppression and dominance. Relationships among women form a refuge, providing reciprocal love in a world filled with male violence. Female ties take many forms: some are motherly or sisterly, some are in the form of mentor and pupil, some are sexual, and some are simply friendships. Sofia claims that her ability to fight comes from her strong relationships with her sisters. Nettie’s relationship with Celie anchors her through years of living in the unfamiliar culture of Africa. Samuel notes that the strong relationships among Olinka women are the only thing that makes polygamy bearable for them.Most important, Celie’s ties to Shug bring about Celie’s gradual redemption and her attainment of a sense of self. The Cyclical Nature of Racism and Sexism Almost none of the abusers in Walker’s novel are stereotypical, one-dimensional mo nsters whom we can dismiss as purely evil. Those who perpetuate violence are themselves victims, often of sexism, racism, or paternalism. Harpo, for example, beats Sofia only after his father implies that Sofia’s resistance makes Harpo less of a man. Mr. ______ is violent and mistreats his family much like his own tyrantlike father treated him.Celie advises Harpo to beat Sofia because she is jealous of Sofia’s strength and assertiveness. The characters are largely aware of the cyclical nature of harmful behavior. For instance, Sofia tells Eleanor Jane that societal influence makes it almost inevitable that her baby boy will grow up to be a racist. Only by forcefully talking back to the men who abuse them and showing them a new way of doing things do the women of the novel break these cycles of sexism and violence, causing the men who abused them to stop and reexamine their ways. The Disruption of Traditional Gender RolesMany characters in the novel break the boundaries of traditional male or female gender roles. Sofia’s strength and sass, Shug’s sexual assertiveness, and Harpo’s insecurity are major examples of such disparity between a character’s gender and the traits he or she displays. This blurring of gender traits and roles sometimes involves sexual ambiguity, as we see in the sexual relationship that develops between Celie and Shug. Disruption of gender roles sometimes causes problems. Harpo’s insecurity about his masculinity leads to marital problems and his attempts to beat Sofia.Likewise, Shug’s confident sexuality and resistance to male domination cause her to be labeled a tramp. Throughout the novel, Walker wishes to emphasize that gender and sexuality are not as simple as we may believe. Her novel subverts and defies the traditional ways in which we understand women to be women and men to be men. Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop an d inform the text’s major themes. Letters Walker uses the novel’s epistolary (letter-writing) form to emphasize the power of communication. Celie writes letters to God, and Nettie writes letters to Celie.Both sisters gain strength from their letter writing, but they are saved only when they receive responses to their letters. Therefore, although writing letters enables self-e-xpression and confession, it requires a willing audience. When Celie never responds to Nettie’s letters, Nettie feels lost because Celie is her only audience. Nettie grows disillusioned with her missionary work because the imperialists will not listen to her and because the Olinka villagers are stubborn. Only after Nettie returns home to Celie, an audience guaranteed to listen, does she feel fulfilled and freed.The Rural Farm Community Walker sets most of her novel in a rural farm community that has few visitors, and she focuses on colorful portraits of each of her characters. By focusing o n the personal lives and transformations of her characters, Walker renders public events almost irrelevant. When Shug and Celie hear news of current events from the outside world, it all just sounds â€Å"crazy† to them. The unspecific time and place broaden the novel’s scope, making its themes more universal. Colors Throughout the novel, the appearance of brighter colors indicates the liberation various characters experience.Walker uses color to signal renewals and rebirths at several points in the novel. When Kate takes Celie shopping for a new dress, the only color options are drab ones—brown, maroon, and dark blue. Later, Celie and Sofia use bright yellow fabric from Shug’s dress to make a quilt. When Celie describes her religious awakening, she marvels how she never noticed the wonders that God has made, such as â€Å"the color purple. † Upon Mr. ______’s transformation, he paints the entire interior of his house â€Å"fresh and white, † signaling his new beginning. Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.Sewing and Quilts In general, sewing in The Color Purple symbolizes the power women can gain from productively channeling their creative energy. After Sofia and Celie argue about the advice Celie has given Harpo, Sofia signals a truce by suggesting they make a quilt. The quilt, composed of diverse patterns sewn together, symbolizes diverse people coming together in unity. Like a patchwork quilt, the community of love that surrounds Celie at the end of the novel incorporates men and women who are bonded by family and friendship, and who have different gender roles, sexual orientations, and talents.Another important instance of sewing in the novel is Celie’s pants-sewing business. With Shug’s help, Celie overturns the idea that sewing is marginal and unimportant women’s labor, and she turns it into a lucrative, empowering so urce of economic independence. God In the early parts of the novel, Celie sees God as her listener and helping hand, yet Celie does not have a clear understanding of who God is. She knows deep down that her image of God as a white patriarch â€Å"don’t seem quite right,† but she says it’s all she has.Shug invites Celie to imagine God as something radically different, as an â€Å"it† that delights in creation and just wants human beings to love what it has created. Eventually, Celie stops thinking of God as she stops thinking of the other men in her life—she â€Å"git man off her eyeball† and tells God off, writing, â€Å"You must be sleep. † But after Celie has chased her patriarchal God away and come up with a new concept of God, she writes in her last letter, â€Å"Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God. This reimagining of God on her own terms symbolizes Celie’s move from an obje ct of someone else’s care to an independent woman. It also indicates that her voice is now sufficiently empowered to create her own narrative. < Previous Section Analysis of Major Characters beginning. The Color Purple: This color, the color of royalty, exemplifies the endless possibilities available to Celie and other black women if they stand up for their own rights. Rightdock: 1 year ago The book is entitled Color Purple because Purple symbolizes hope which is largely given importance in the story. It was written by Alice Walker and released in 1982.

Why Not to Legalize Marijuana

Why Not to Legalize Marijuana Marjorie Fleuridor ENG/102 March 10, 2013 Professor Laura Barnes Marijuana is one of the best known drugs that have been widely consumed throughout history which today raises a concerned eyebrow. Those who are advocates consider marijuana a harmless and beneficial substance because of its claimed value in treating symptoms of serious illness or diseases and Jeffrey Miron, a professor of economics at Harvard University in the following viewpoint believes that, â€Å"Legalizing illicit drugs would generate billions in tax revenue† (Forbes, 2012 pp. -1). Just as any drug, marijuana may bring some type of relief with its use, but it also poses risk which in the end poses threat to the economy because of its affects to the human body, open doors to addiction, and worse, harms the youth which is not worth the added benefits for the few legitimate users to make acceptable. Marijuana, which is also referred to as pot, weed, cannabis, refer, and Mary Jane to name a few, is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the U. S. s well as around the world which comes from the stems, seeds, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant, which is also known as cannabis. Most individuals use the plant by either smoking it or mixing it into food because it is an all-natural substance. Registered nurse Mary Lynn Mathre states, â€Å"The cannabis plant (marijuana) has therapeutic benefits and could ease the suffering of millions of persons with various illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, chronic pain, and other maladies† (Mathre 1997, p. ) and that is one of various reasons advocates on legalizing the plant believe that, the substance relieving and therapeutic benefits should legalize the use of marijuana, but if that were the case, risks that occur from its use would not outweigh the benefits. First, why are the detrimental factors of the substance ignored? If marijuana is legali zed worldwide, through its medicinal or recreational use, the human body will experience short as well as long term effects stemming from the consumption of the plant.Marijuana contains a psychoactive chemical which is called tetrahydrcannabinol or THC and as it enters the brain, the marijuana user starts to feel euphoric, or high, but occasionally the drug makes individuals feel anxious, depressed, distrustful or fearful. THC affects the body in various ways by causing short-term effects which include memory loss, trouble with thinking, diminished motor skills, and an increase of the heart rate which is just the minor damage that pose hazard to the body (Goldstein, 2010).Advocates of marijuana has gone as far as pleading that the substance has no real potential harm compared to the use of tobacco, one of the leading causes of cancer. Crystal Phend, a senior staff writer for MedPage Today discusses a study that indicates that a link is present between smoking marijuana and lung canc er where she notes, â€Å"that the study finds that a single marijuana joint may be as carcinogenic as twenty cigarettes† (MedPage Today, 2008 p. ) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) formulated a chart on the commonly abused drugs in which tobacco which causes greater health risk such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer in various forms, for instance, the lungs, pancreas, and esophagus, but it has yet to be scheduled. Marijuana on the other hand poses less health risk compared to tobacco, but it is labeled as a Scheduled I drug, because for as long as marijuana has been present in the world, the illicit drug has no approved use and the denial from the federal law will definitely cause a harsher dent to the economy. The federal ban will keep the marijuana market fragmented† (Berlatsky, 2012 p. 178) which means the small population of potential growers or distributers will continue to fight or compete on the marijuana market, which may limit tax collection r esources and just proves why it should not be legalized. .To further, the story of former marijuana user shares how difficult it was to withdraw from marijuana concerning the subject of addiction with its use.Mick, a 62 year-old male started smoking pot back in 1969 because he had bouts of anxiety and at times depression, but has been sober for the past 10 years, up until suffering one of those prolonged periods of anxiety, in which he took a few hits on the pipe of the drug. The couple of use he took of the substance caused his level of anxiety to skyrocket, in which Mick then withdrew himself from the illicit drug.On the sixth day of withdrawal from smoking weed, he shared how his stomach thought terrible, which gave Mick an awful feeling. When he ate, he stated how his stomach became upset, but not to the point of vomiting and it brought on anxious as well as irritable feelings to the point where cries and isolates himself. Mick concluded on how he would never lit up again becaus e of the unfortunate risk it caused him when he attempted to misuse the drug (Online Support Groups for your Health Challenges, 2011).Supporters disagree that the plant could be of such sort compared to other drugs because a person who quits the substance will not undergo the painful physical symptoms and cravings compared to the experience which individuals suffer when they try to stop using heroin, but we as human react differently to various things. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that â€Å"about 9% of users develop an addiction to the drug, and that the number rises to 25% to 50% if people use the drug everyday† (NIDA, 2009 p. ). Some users of marijuana may become dependent on marijuana for various matters, and they become fixated on getting the plant, utilizing it in large quantities, and feel uncomfortable without it. If marijuana does not cause addiction, then why do so many victims of its use enter rehab facilities annually? â€Å"Since 1997, the number of people getting treatment for marijuana each year has increased by roughly 50%, or about 100,000 people† (Stop the Drug War 2009, p. 1).With such an increase, the economy will continue to suffer because of the cost of treatment for individuals battling little to no result with their marijuana addiction. Last, â€Å"Why young people have the need to use cannabis on a frequent basis is an interesting question and may be associated with their underlying personality characteristics, environment during childhood and adolescence, as well as any psychiatric disturbances they have experienced, such as depression, anxiety or even psychotic symptoms† (Camera et al. , 2012 pp. 1-2).The subject of a child’s environment where the use of the plant comes to play may cause an adolescent to suffer. For example, a parent’s state of mind may be altered when he or she needs to be an active, attentive caregiver when children are in their presence. Neglect may be the result because the symptoms interfered in the parent’s responsibilities and in such cases; social services are involved resulting with the system providing further care and parents in jail or rehab centers in which they would have to prove their stability.A child in this type of situation may isolate themselves from others or lash out because what they know as normal and home has been taken away. This particular child may grow up and head down the same path of smoking pot and with the â€Å"high† feeling which supporters advocate is the effects of the â€Å"medicine†, but marijuana as the introduction, opens the door to the potential use of other drugs, which can be detrimental.An adolescent may try marijuana and enjoy it; after a while, in the same environment that led to that first joint, will become curious or peer pressured into the unfamiliarity of other substances that are more exciting, gives a greater stimulation, or is more illicit, but are unaware of the dang ers that lay ahead. Heroin and cocaine are the common â€Å"gateway drugs† from early marijuana use in which both are highly toxic and have led to a number amount of deaths as well. Heroine like marijuana is illegal, highly addictive, true contents is unknown, and also is the most abused.The drug is processed from morphine; a naturally occurring substance removed from the seed pot of a variety of poppy plants and is typically a white or brownish powder. Cocaine is removed from the leaves of a South Africa coca plant, affects the body’s central nervous system and the fact that it is a white crystalline powder; cocaine is often mixed with cornstarch, vitamins, flour, and sugar. In relation to marijuana, the drug creates a strong sense of exhilaration in which users generally feel invisible and happy-go-lucky.Legalization of marijuana may increase the number of users in which† an additional 17 to 34 million young adult users† (US News, 2012 p. 1) which sets a bad example for young adults because with its worldwide acceptance whether it is for medical or recreational use, they will be curious of the feeling and reaction from its use, which will only lead down a road to where the youth will take a toll regarding marijuana use. You see, the youth are most at risk from legalization as well as associated obtainability of recreational drugs. If marijuana were to become more available, acceptable nd inexpensive, the substance will pull in greater numbers of vulnerable youth. †The marketing tactics of drug promoters and the major decline in drug use in the 1990s (due in great part to antidrug, education and awareness campaigns) there is a growing perception among young people today that drugs are harmless. A decade ago, for example, 79% of 12th graders thought regular marijuana use was harmful; only 58% do so today† (Drug Free Foundation, 2004) and pressure from colleagues is such an issue in persuading a peer to test drugs, the way adolescents perceive the dangers of its use is serious.The acceptance of marijuana to where it is provided with the government’s stamp of approval, directs a message to young children that drug use is not only inoffensive, but also normal and this is precisely the opposite message we should be assigning. Teaching children that drug use is dangerous will be even more difficult because advocates declare marijuana as â€Å"medicine,† which just simply opens a window for teens to feel that it is ok to smoke or add into their food however they may choose and through the promotion of the good it brings, this will only open a continual use of the drug and a cost to the economy. Marijuana use accounts for tens of thousands of marijuana related complaints at emergency rooms throughout the United States each year and over 99,000 are young people† (U. S. News 2012, pp. 1-1). The numbers are far too great to promote just the beneficial aspects of marijuana when the potential harmful outcomes cost the economy as far as healthcare costs with the number of young patience that are admitted to the hospital.To conclude, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) declared that responsible adult personal use of marijuana should be legalized, but how can one determine who is responsible to make use of weed? Alcohol and tobacco may stimulate harsher risk factors when consumed, but after more than 40 years of its existence, marijuana remains a Scheduled 1 substance, which is a drug that has a high potential for abuse, have no accepted medical use, and are not safe for use under medical supervision.In the end, the risks of marijuana seem to outweigh the benefits and that is why marijuana should not be legalized. References 42 Years of smoking pot / day 6 of withdrawal. (n. d. ). Online Support Groups for your Health Challenges. Retrieved from http://www. mdjunction. com/forums/marijuana-addiction-discussions/introductions-personal-stories/2 665662-42-years-of-smoking-pot-day-6-of-withdrawal Berlatsky, N. (2012). Legalizing Marijuana in California Would Not Generate Substantial Tax Revenue. In Marijuana (p. 178). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Camera, A. A. , Tomaselli, V. Fleming, J. , Jabbar, G. A. , Trachtenberg, M. , Galves-Buccollini, J. A. (2012). Correlates to the Variable Effects of Cannabis in Young adults: A Preliminary Study. Harm Reduction, 9(15), 1-2. Cohan, P. (2012, September 7). Is it Time to Legalize Illicit Drugs? – Forbes. Information for the World's Business Leaders – Forbes. com. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://www. forbes. com/sites/petercohan/2012/07/09/is-it-time-to-legalize-illicit-drugs/ Drug Free Foundation (2004). Drug Free America Foundation – Medical Marijuana – ProCon. org. Medical Marijuana ProCon. org.Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://medicalmarijuana. procon. org/view. source. php? sourceID=000810 Drug Free Foundation (2009, October 12). Dr ug Free America Foundation – Medical Marijuana – ProCon. org. Medical Marijuana ProCon. org. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://medicalmarijuana. procon. org/view. source. php? sourceID=000810 Evans, D. G. (2012, October 30). Marijuana Legalization's Costs Outweigh Its Benefits | Debate Club | US News Opinion. US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and more. Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://www. usnews. om/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/marijuana-legalizations-costs-outweigh-its-benefits Goldstein. , M. J. (2010). Legalizing Drugs: Crime Stopper Or Social Risk? (p. 115). Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Pub. Group. Mathre, M. L. (1997). Legal Dilemmas of Cannabis Prohibitation. In Cannabis in medical practice: A legal, historical, and pharmacological overview of the therapeutic use of marijuana (p. 1). Jefferson, N. C: McFarland & Co. National Institue on Drug Abuse (2009). Is marijuana addictive? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from

Informative Speech Essay example

Informative Speech Essay example Informative Speech Essay example Angel Nolker How to Manage Your Stress We have all had the feeling before, our muscles are tense, our stomach is upset, we can’t sleep or eat; though some of us may eat too much. You may feel sad or depressed and when you try to think of a way to fix your problems you go blank. This is because you are stressed. Most of my facts are from medicinenet.com it’s a website edited, wrote, and reviewed by doctors. Medicinenet.com defines stress as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). I think all of us can relate to stress, especially since we are all college students. We are faced with all different types of stress. Stress is constant in our lives and cannot be avoided; that’s why I would like to inform you of the two types of stress and a few tips on ways that you can help manage your stress. I think that the tips I give you can help with every day stress situations and make life more enjoyable. There are two types of stress: Acute and Chronic. Acute stress is the type of stress that comes immediately with a change of routine. It is an intense type of stress, but it passes quickly. Some of the effects a person may have are chest pain, abdominal discomfort, headaches, difficulty in concentrating, sleeplessness. Chronic stress will occur if there is a constant change of routine for week after week. Chronic stress affects the body for a long period of time. This type of stress happens when a person faces moves or job changes. Some of the effects of Chronic stress are headache, mood swings, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, memory disturbances and in severe cases of heart attacks because of high blood pressure. Now that we know the types of stress I would like to talk about a few reasons for stress that I believe most of us or all us can relate to: First is how stress is involved with being a college student, second is stress in succeeding in life, and last is personal relati onships. The first reason for stress would be being a college student. Being a college student can be very stressful. College can be very demanding; we all have our own lives, some of us work and have to take care of our families, and to add school work such as tests, papers, project, and finals on top of that can be very stressful and time consuming. We all want to succeed in our classes and that can add a lot of stress as well. So many times we put overwhelming pressure on ourselves to do well and get good grades. We don’t want to disappoint our family and friends and especially ourselves. At times this all can be too much. The second type of stress I think we can all relate to is succeeding in life. Whether it is doing well in school, in our career, or a goal we have set for ourselves. We all want to succeed! Who wakes up in the morning and says, today I think I want to fail? I don’t think any of us do. It is deeply rooted in the American dream that anything is possible if only you can dream and seek to make those dreams come true. Dreams are believed to be attainable as long as you work hard enough and are motivated enough to reach that goal. Society does not accept failure too well. So, along with opportunities and possibilities come the pressure to succeed and the pressure to be successful. I think a very motivating quote would be â€Å"I do not fail; I succeed in finding out what does not work†. The third type of stress would be personal relationships. Those could be with our mom and dad, with our children, husband or wife, or our friends. I believe personal relationships are one of the top causes of stress. Family life can be very stressful; Family-related stress can be attributed to various factors such as dealing with a family member's terminal illness, the loss of a loved one, sibling rivalry, divorce, re-marriage, blending families. There are so many issues that can

Anthology Submissions A Good Idea or Not

Anthology Submissions A Good Idea or Not Thinking of submitting to an anthology? I’d say if you have time to write an essay based on the submission guidelines, aren’t looking for great financial reward but are seeking to be published in a â€Å"real† book, there’s nothing to lose. I noticed a small ad in Poets Writers for submissions to an anthology devoted to lessons learned from our mothers. The editor, Eric Bowen, had decided to create an anthology of essays and poems and donate half of the proceeds to shelters for women and children affected (amazon.com/Wisdom-Our-Mothers-Stories-daughters/dp/1453631011) I was delighted to have my essay about my mother and knitting selected and the book has been a wonderful gift item. And it was my first time published in a book so a great credential to add to my resume. Shortly after, I was invited to submit an essay to a book being compiled (amazon.com/Im-Going-College-Not-You-Surviving/dp/0312607296 ) While these opportunities weren’t high paying, I felt they were important and a chance to have my work judged Without giving the writers any themes, I received submissions that span the entire citrus spectrum, from sour to sweet.   Inside are poems and essays about parents, families, jobs, food, and memories.   The title, Tangerine Tango: Women Writers Share Slices of Life, came from my love of the color orange and love of alliteration. I offered to pay the writers $50 for their submissions and have decided to donate the proceeds from the sales to fight Huntington’s Disease, which honors one of the writers who lost her mother to the disease this year. I loved working with the writers and shaping the book, seeing the themes that emerged.   I hope to do it again! So, I’d encourage you to submit to an anthology if you see one that speaks to you as a writer. Not for the money, but to be included in a book that you can be proud to be part of and will give you a chance to be published. I’d be wary of offers that don’t pay at all, or are for total commercial gain. Be sure you maintain the rights of your work too. You never know, being in an anthology could be a steppingstone to more acceptances.  

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution The U.S. Constitution was written at the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, and signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified in 1789. The document established our nations fundamental laws and government structures and ensured basic rights for American citizens.   Preamble The preamble to the Constitution alone is one of the most important pieces of writing in American history. It sets up the basic principles of our democracy, and introduces the concept of federalism. It reads:   We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Quick Facts The nickname for the U.S. Constitution is Bundle of Compromises.The Chief Draftsmen of the U.S. Constitution is  James Madison and Gouverneur Morris.The ratification of the U.S. Constitution happened in 1789 with the agreement of 9 out of 13 states. Eventually, all 13 would ratify the US Constitution. Overall Structure of the U.S. Constitution There are seven articles followed by 27 amendments.  The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.The U.S. Constitution is currently considered the shortest governing document of any nation.The U.S. Constitution was organized secretly, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries. Key Principles Separation of Powers:  An act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.Checks and Balances:  Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.Federalism:  Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state governments. In America, the states existed first and they had the challenge of creating a national government. Ways to Amend the U.S. Constitution Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state conventions (never used)Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state legislatures (never used)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state conventions (used once)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures (used all other times) Proposing and Ratifying Amendments To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose and amendment. Another way is to have two-thirds  of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention.To ratify an amendment, three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it. The second way is for three-fourths of ratifying conventions in states approve it. Interesting Constitutional Facts Only 12 of the 13 original states actually took part in writing the US Constitution.Rhode Island did not attend the Constitutional Convention, though they eventually were the last state to ratify the document in year 1790.Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention at the age of 81-years-old. Jonathon Dayton of New Jersey was the youngest in attendance at just 26-years-old.Over 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Only 27 have been ratified.  The Constitution contains several misspellings, including the misspelling of Pennsylvania as Pensylvania.

Alignment of Business and IT Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Alignment of Business and IT Strategy - Essay Example However, it is yet to be determined that alignment issues exist, and if they do how to control for these gaps. The results showed that to enhance business strategy there must be a focus on the organizational vision and improvement of communication of business strategy and vision. The alignment of the two organizational elements, were concluded to be directly affected by the coherence of a business department. Overall, it was recommended that a robust business architecture be developed, and that the organization create a separate and centralized IT department. During the past three decades IT ahs become essential to business operations. Initially IT was distributed over departments; decentralized; specialized; and limited in application. However, the authors do not provide insights as to why IT "increased and spread"; only examples of how. A common solution in the past was to have a separate IT department; however this was found to limit effective communication between IT department and other departments. The suggestion of IT departments reporting directly to management can create internal "politics". Management often prioritizes the issues and this can lead to resentment of IT staff by the end users in other parts of the organization. The isolation of IT strategy can also draw a significant amount of resources away from the overall business strategy. As a consequence, non-alignment increases costs in time, money and organizational harmony. 3.0 Literature Review Since the early 1980s alignment of IT and business strategy has been realized as a critical need. The primary inhibitors identified over time have included; the IT department not prioritizing efficiently; and IT management lacking leadership. Models have been developed such as; 1) Strategic Integration Systems Planning (SISP); and 2) strategic integration across the entire organization. Solutions to date for effective alignment are; 1) communication and understanding; 2) business ownership and accountability for return on IT investments; 3) rapid strategy development driven by climatic business changes; and 4) enhance the internal competencies of the business. 4.0 Method The method used to include the Alignment of Business and IT (ABIT) department of the Fortune 50 company to aid in the coordination of the project. The ABIT department created a list of potential employees who were considered to have a "balanced perspective". This is a limitation isn't that a random sample was not selected, and so the results cannot be generalized to other organizations, as the sample is not representative of the wider population. Instead, selection criteria could have been used to operationalize what a "balanced perspective" was. Three groups were created; 1) one having a business perspective; 2) one having an IT perspective; and 3) one having a "balanced" perspective. However, a pre-test could have been done first to identify a priori knowledge and to place people in groups based on their current knowledge.The questions for the interviews were developed with the aid of ABIT to identify gaps, however no information is given as to how these items were selected and if they were tested for their reliability and validity. Each group was interviewed with questions